What do you think?
Rate this book
The Snow Queen #1
Heart of Ice
Rakel, a princess by birth, has spent most of her life exiled on a barren mountain, despised because of her powerful snow magic. Though she longs to be accepted, she hides in her ice-castle and lives with the fear that her brother—the King—will one day order her execution.
Her empty life changes forever when an army of magic users—led by the enigmatic Colonel Farrin Graydim—invade her home country and plan to enslave its citizens. Swallowing her fear, Rakel joins forces with her jailers and uses her magic to save the people who scorned her.
If Rakel cannot defend her homeland, the country will be lost.
THE SNOW QUEEN: HEART OF ICE is a story of magic, distrust, and unexpected friendships. It takes place in the same world as the TIMELESS FAIRY TALES series, but occurs centuries prior. If you enjoy strong female leads, clean romance, and humorous stories, download a sample or buy HEART OF ICE today!
Her empty life changes forever when an army of magic users—led by the enigmatic Colonel Farrin Graydim—invade her home country and plan to enslave its citizens. Swallowing her fear, Rakel joins forces with her jailers and uses her magic to save the people who scorned her.
If Rakel cannot defend her homeland, the country will be lost.
THE SNOW QUEEN: HEART OF ICE is a story of magic, distrust, and unexpected friendships. It takes place in the same world as the TIMELESS FAIRY TALES series, but occurs centuries prior. If you enjoy strong female leads, clean romance, and humorous stories, download a sample or buy HEART OF ICE today!
227 pages, ebook
First published December 17, 2015
530 people are currently reading
4233 people want to read
About the author
K.M. Shea
119 books4,792 followersMy pen name is K. M. Shea, but my readers—I prefer to call them Champions—call me Kitty.
I love to write funny, clean stories with strong characters. Books like that are among my favorite to read so naturally I love writing stories like that as well. My philosophy is that life is tough, so books should be something that makes you relax and laugh!
VISIT MY FACEBOOK GROUP
https://www.facebook.com/groups/27090...
VISIT MY AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
https://www.amazon.com/K-M-Shea/e/B00...
VISIT MY WEBSITE
https://kmshea.com/
I love to write funny, clean stories with strong characters. Books like that are among my favorite to read so naturally I love writing stories like that as well. My philosophy is that life is tough, so books should be something that makes you relax and laugh!
VISIT MY FACEBOOK GROUP
https://www.facebook.com/groups/27090...
VISIT MY AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
https://www.amazon.com/K-M-Shea/e/B00...
VISIT MY WEBSITE
https://kmshea.com/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
December 1, 2018
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
MY SECOND FAVORITE BOOK OF 2016! YES!!!!
Rakel has been exiled most of her life for having magic. Her parents sent her away and her brother who became King kept her away as well, but they will need her help to fight to keep them all alive. Ironic....
Princess Rakel made an ice castle for herself to live in, she has a loyal man that has been with her the whole time named Oskar and he is awesome, he is more than just a mere servant. She has a few guards that are afraid of her except for Captain Halvor, he's cool as hell too.
Rakel can weave and make snow and ice. I think that is awesome and I want to do it! She is a kind woman even though people are cruel to her and think she is a monster. Please, they are the monsters. Even when she helps them, the treat her like a monster. But, she is still kind and doesn't want to hurt anyone that she doesn't have to hurt. Make no mistake, she is still a woman to be reckoned with and will do what it takes to protect innocent people and children.
--->EXCERPT<---
With a roar, Rakel's magic flared to life. She extended her hand, and spears of ice thrust up from the ground, almost impaling the invader.
He dropped the villager and scrambled backwards. "To arms!" he shouted.
"Too late," Rakel said as she approached Vefsna, the wind flapping her cape and wildly flinging her hair.
When the invaders ran at her, their weapons raised, Rakel attacked them with pin-point precision, covering their arms and torsos with armor-like ice at least a finger-length thick. Unable to move their arms, wrists, or weapons, they toddled, knocked off balance.
She raised a wall of ice behind them, formed thick blocks of ice and slid them across the iced ground, knocking the men into the wall. She didn't release her magic but instead kept pushing. When they groaned and yelped, Rakel weakened the ice they were pinned against, so they smashed straight through it.
She befriends, or rather, two little children befriended Rakel, Gerta and Kai. They thought she was wonderful and she didn't know what to make of them as most people feared her and she never had any human contact.
--->EXCERPT<---
Rakel couldn't think, but her hand hovered for a moment over Gerta's head until she dared to smooth her hair. Gerta didn't flinch, and instead gave Rakel a smile that used her entire body. "You came," she said.
"Yes."
"Thank you."
Rakel opened her mouth to say more, but she jumped when Captain Halvor appeared in front of her, plucking the dagger from the villager's fingers.
"Idiot." He head-butted him, and the man went down, held up only by his arm.
When Rakel released the wall, he hit the ground with a splat and was out cold.
See, even though she helps, some of the villagers want to kill her because she is a monster that uses magic. What idiots!!!!!!
After talking over things with Captain Halvor and Oskar, she decides she wants to go to war. These evil peeps are wanting to take over her land. The main dude following orders is named Farrin and he uses magic too and is very dangerous, but he never tries to actually kill Rakel, he wants her to join them and even when she doesn't, he tries to keep her safe. But she keeps fighting him with all she has...
Then we meet a wonderful girl named Phile Silver-Step--The Robber Maiden. She is funny (actually there are a lot of funny stuff in the book) and she joins Rakel's army. She is a great fighter and is as loyal to the princess as Oskar and Halvor.
--->EXCERPT<---
"I, Your Highness, am Phile Silver-Step--the Robber Maiden. I am here to offer you my services."
Noticing some of the soldiers had recovered and was nocking an arrow in his bow, Rakel threw a boulder-sized snowball at him, flattening him. "If you mean to rescue me, allow me to assure you it is not necessary."
"Of course not," Phile said, sounding scandalized. "You are a strong, independent woman-or I wouldn't offer you my services. I choose not to reward sniveling girls who make no attempt to rescue themselves--you don't want to reinforce such behavior, you know." She made big gestures and held an oddly shaped dagger in her right hand, which she stabbed when she wanted to make a point.
Another keen point from the mouth of Phile.
I'll give it to you, Your Highness, you have excellent taste. Did you surround yourself with a multitude of handsome men on purpose, or was it merely good fortune?" she asked. Her close scrutiny made the already ruddy-faced Aleifr turn crimson.
"It is," Phile insisted. "It's like a leaping deer--no, that doesn't properly describe your abilities. Hmm...seeing you work your magic is like, like watching a wolf sing. That's what you are, a little wolf!"
There are people in the towns that are not scared of her and are on her side. Rakel finds this stunning, as she always sees herself as a monster. Now, there are still men and women that she hears talking about her being a monster or trying to kill her and I think that is very, very sad. But one night when her and Phile are in a home and the people don't know who she is, they say something that astonishes her and made me feel happy for her.
Rakel deliberated for a moment, then drew closer to the seated companions. "Why do you call her the Snow Queen? She's a princess."
"There're different sorts of royalty--the most common being those born by blood," Yngvarr said. "But sometimes, there's a special sort of person who's so noble and honorable in spite of personal tragedy that they deserve the same reverence. That would be our Snow Queen."
*SOB*
I loved that she got to hear that.
Like I said before Rakel has some faithful followers and people in her army, but there are still a couple that try to kill her. It doesn't happen but it hurts her feelings.
So they keep fighting with these group of people called "The Chosen." They have several magic weavers in their army. Rakel starts to have trouble using so much magic herself fighting and protecting her army. Then lo and behold, some magic welders come forth and help her and it's so freaking wonderful and the looks on the evil one's faces.... CLASSIC!
I have to say this book was so magical for me. There is a lot of fighting, ice, snow, snarky remarks, people coming together for the greater good, sweet children, reindeer (yes reindeer), death, and many things I know I'm leaving out. I don't want to give everything away, and I haven't, I think I have done good at giving you an idea of things that go on in the book, but you will have to read it to see how good it truly is. I love strong woman character's and Rakel is that, she is strong and she is noble and she is kind. She finally gets to meet her brother the King, but I won't tell you how that went..
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes fantasy and strong women characters and snow and ice!!!!!! I can't wait for the next book, it said in this book Feb 2016 but I couldn't find it.. I will find it when it comes out! I have to! Woot! ♥
MY SECOND FAVORITE BOOK OF 2016! YES!!!!
Rakel has been exiled most of her life for having magic. Her parents sent her away and her brother who became King kept her away as well, but they will need her help to fight to keep them all alive. Ironic....
Princess Rakel made an ice castle for herself to live in, she has a loyal man that has been with her the whole time named Oskar and he is awesome, he is more than just a mere servant. She has a few guards that are afraid of her except for Captain Halvor, he's cool as hell too.
Rakel can weave and make snow and ice. I think that is awesome and I want to do it! She is a kind woman even though people are cruel to her and think she is a monster. Please, they are the monsters. Even when she helps them, the treat her like a monster. But, she is still kind and doesn't want to hurt anyone that she doesn't have to hurt. Make no mistake, she is still a woman to be reckoned with and will do what it takes to protect innocent people and children.
--->EXCERPT<---
With a roar, Rakel's magic flared to life. She extended her hand, and spears of ice thrust up from the ground, almost impaling the invader.
He dropped the villager and scrambled backwards. "To arms!" he shouted.
"Too late," Rakel said as she approached Vefsna, the wind flapping her cape and wildly flinging her hair.
When the invaders ran at her, their weapons raised, Rakel attacked them with pin-point precision, covering their arms and torsos with armor-like ice at least a finger-length thick. Unable to move their arms, wrists, or weapons, they toddled, knocked off balance.
She raised a wall of ice behind them, formed thick blocks of ice and slid them across the iced ground, knocking the men into the wall. She didn't release her magic but instead kept pushing. When they groaned and yelped, Rakel weakened the ice they were pinned against, so they smashed straight through it.
She befriends, or rather, two little children befriended Rakel, Gerta and Kai. They thought she was wonderful and she didn't know what to make of them as most people feared her and she never had any human contact.
--->EXCERPT<---
Rakel couldn't think, but her hand hovered for a moment over Gerta's head until she dared to smooth her hair. Gerta didn't flinch, and instead gave Rakel a smile that used her entire body. "You came," she said.
"Yes."
"Thank you."
Rakel opened her mouth to say more, but she jumped when Captain Halvor appeared in front of her, plucking the dagger from the villager's fingers.
"Idiot." He head-butted him, and the man went down, held up only by his arm.
When Rakel released the wall, he hit the ground with a splat and was out cold.
See, even though she helps, some of the villagers want to kill her because she is a monster that uses magic. What idiots!!!!!!
After talking over things with Captain Halvor and Oskar, she decides she wants to go to war. These evil peeps are wanting to take over her land. The main dude following orders is named Farrin and he uses magic too and is very dangerous, but he never tries to actually kill Rakel, he wants her to join them and even when she doesn't, he tries to keep her safe. But she keeps fighting him with all she has...
Then we meet a wonderful girl named Phile Silver-Step--The Robber Maiden. She is funny (actually there are a lot of funny stuff in the book) and she joins Rakel's army. She is a great fighter and is as loyal to the princess as Oskar and Halvor.
--->EXCERPT<---
"I, Your Highness, am Phile Silver-Step--the Robber Maiden. I am here to offer you my services."
Noticing some of the soldiers had recovered and was nocking an arrow in his bow, Rakel threw a boulder-sized snowball at him, flattening him. "If you mean to rescue me, allow me to assure you it is not necessary."
"Of course not," Phile said, sounding scandalized. "You are a strong, independent woman-or I wouldn't offer you my services. I choose not to reward sniveling girls who make no attempt to rescue themselves--you don't want to reinforce such behavior, you know." She made big gestures and held an oddly shaped dagger in her right hand, which she stabbed when she wanted to make a point.
Another keen point from the mouth of Phile.
I'll give it to you, Your Highness, you have excellent taste. Did you surround yourself with a multitude of handsome men on purpose, or was it merely good fortune?" she asked. Her close scrutiny made the already ruddy-faced Aleifr turn crimson.
"It is," Phile insisted. "It's like a leaping deer--no, that doesn't properly describe your abilities. Hmm...seeing you work your magic is like, like watching a wolf sing. That's what you are, a little wolf!"
There are people in the towns that are not scared of her and are on her side. Rakel finds this stunning, as she always sees herself as a monster. Now, there are still men and women that she hears talking about her being a monster or trying to kill her and I think that is very, very sad. But one night when her and Phile are in a home and the people don't know who she is, they say something that astonishes her and made me feel happy for her.
Rakel deliberated for a moment, then drew closer to the seated companions. "Why do you call her the Snow Queen? She's a princess."
"There're different sorts of royalty--the most common being those born by blood," Yngvarr said. "But sometimes, there's a special sort of person who's so noble and honorable in spite of personal tragedy that they deserve the same reverence. That would be our Snow Queen."
*SOB*
I loved that she got to hear that.
Like I said before Rakel has some faithful followers and people in her army, but there are still a couple that try to kill her. It doesn't happen but it hurts her feelings.
So they keep fighting with these group of people called "The Chosen." They have several magic weavers in their army. Rakel starts to have trouble using so much magic herself fighting and protecting her army. Then lo and behold, some magic welders come forth and help her and it's so freaking wonderful and the looks on the evil one's faces.... CLASSIC!
I have to say this book was so magical for me. There is a lot of fighting, ice, snow, snarky remarks, people coming together for the greater good, sweet children, reindeer (yes reindeer), death, and many things I know I'm leaving out. I don't want to give everything away, and I haven't, I think I have done good at giving you an idea of things that go on in the book, but you will have to read it to see how good it truly is. I love strong woman character's and Rakel is that, she is strong and she is noble and she is kind. She finally gets to meet her brother the King, but I won't tell you how that went..
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes fantasy and strong women characters and snow and ice!!!!!! I can't wait for the next book, it said in this book Feb 2016 but I couldn't find it.. I will find it when it comes out! I have to! Woot! ♥
November 9, 2017
This book was promising... but I have to say I was let down. The characters were so very underdeveloped. The main character, Rakel, was boring, dull and one dimensional. Phile was a random girl who showed up out of nowhere and became her instant best friend for no real reason. Farrin is a random man on the other side who is fighting against her but is already in love with her after maybe 3 short conversations. Oskar and Havlor are basically the same man. Everyone is handsome. Everyone loves Rakel (who is also incredibly beautiful.)
What saved the book for me was the ice magic. it really did sound so pretty and powerful. Even tho they basically won every battle effortlessly, I still liked hearing about the different magic abilities.
What saved the book for me was the ice magic. it really did sound so pretty and powerful. Even tho they basically won every battle effortlessly, I still liked hearing about the different magic abilities.
February 16, 2020
A fabulous prequel to the Timeless Fairytale series!
This series of the Snow Queen takes place centuries before the first book of the fairytale series. I highly recommend you read this series before starting the fairytale one. Unlike me, I was suppose to read this before I read the Frog Prince (Book 9) but instead I read book 9 first 🤦🏻♀️ silly me
But despite that, I love this book!
A magic user, a exiled princess because of her magic possession of snow and ice, she is hated and feared by her family and her country. And yet, when invaders come and try to take her land, she holds her ground despite her fear.
See how Princess Rakel will fight and survive this war, a war that might be more dangerous than she sees.
Amazing first start, eagerly waiting to see what comes next!
This series of the Snow Queen takes place centuries before the first book of the fairytale series. I highly recommend you read this series before starting the fairytale one. Unlike me, I was suppose to read this before I read the Frog Prince (Book 9) but instead I read book 9 first 🤦🏻♀️ silly me
But despite that, I love this book!
A magic user, a exiled princess because of her magic possession of snow and ice, she is hated and feared by her family and her country. And yet, when invaders come and try to take her land, she holds her ground despite her fear.
See how Princess Rakel will fight and survive this war, a war that might be more dangerous than she sees.
Amazing first start, eagerly waiting to see what comes next!
January 5, 2016
Elsa has nothing on this Snow Queen!
This was such a creative and unique fantasy. I definitely think it was more YA but it never at any point felt juvenile to me. There was no sex, no profanity, it was quite PG but done quite well. I tend to prefer more "adult" style fantasies but this one never had a YA feel to it for me personally. Here is my breakdown:
Pros:
* LOVE this book cover
* This was an amazing fairytale
* Lots of action
* I paid $3.99 for this yesterday, but I now see today that is offered as a kindleunlimited - I'm not sure if this is a temporary thing or what, but definitely a nice gesture
* A strong and confident heroine
Cons:
* I was not a fan of the ending - I realized it was part of a series but I had hoped for a bit more closure for the time being
Overall, this was an enjoyable journey and I look forward to checking out the next book.
Also, I was glad to find some short stories pertaining to this story on the authors website. http://kmshea.com/ Very enjoyable short reads and graciously offered for free!
This was such a creative and unique fantasy. I definitely think it was more YA but it never at any point felt juvenile to me. There was no sex, no profanity, it was quite PG but done quite well. I tend to prefer more "adult" style fantasies but this one never had a YA feel to it for me personally. Here is my breakdown:
Pros:
* LOVE this book cover
* This was an amazing fairytale
* Lots of action
* I paid $3.99 for this yesterday, but I now see today that is offered as a kindleunlimited - I'm not sure if this is a temporary thing or what, but definitely a nice gesture
* A strong and confident heroine
Cons:
* I was not a fan of the ending - I realized it was part of a series but I had hoped for a bit more closure for the time being
Overall, this was an enjoyable journey and I look forward to checking out the next book.
Also, I was glad to find some short stories pertaining to this story on the authors website. http://kmshea.com/ Very enjoyable short reads and graciously offered for free!
November 16, 2022
Re-Re-Read Review:
I'm SO excited that there is an audiobook version of this book! The narrators do such a good job, and I LOVED it!
And, yes, I know the audiobook is of the omnibus version, but I'm totally going to pad my Goodreads reading challenge by breaking it into the three individual books.
First Review:
I can't believe I didn't review this on Goodreads when I read it the first time! I know I have a review of it on Amazon, but apparently not here. Oh, well.
This is one of my favorite of all of KM Shea's books. I'm not sure I have a favorite, because I love most of them so much it is hard to choose, though this one and Cinderella and the Colonel are probably my top two.
Like all of KM Shea's book, this is a light, fluffy, quick read with a lot of humor and action thrown in for good measure. Unlike most of her books, this one has slightly darker characters with Rakel being such a tormented little sweetheart and the main bad guy in this book at least being somewhat tortured, not-exactly-a-villain himself.
I'm SO excited that there is an audiobook version of this book! The narrators do such a good job, and I LOVED it!
And, yes, I know the audiobook is of the omnibus version, but I'm totally going to pad my Goodreads reading challenge by breaking it into the three individual books.
First Review:
I can't believe I didn't review this on Goodreads when I read it the first time! I know I have a review of it on Amazon, but apparently not here. Oh, well.
This is one of my favorite of all of KM Shea's books. I'm not sure I have a favorite, because I love most of them so much it is hard to choose, though this one and Cinderella and the Colonel are probably my top two.
Like all of KM Shea's book, this is a light, fluffy, quick read with a lot of humor and action thrown in for good measure. Unlike most of her books, this one has slightly darker characters with Rakel being such a tormented little sweetheart and the main bad guy in this book at least being somewhat tortured, not-exactly-a-villain himself.
February 4, 2017
I wanted to love this book. I saw the potential: the writing wasn't bad, the world building was good (for a shorter novel), and some of the characters really interested me.
but
One-ONE- fucking character in particular pretty much ruined this book for me. The fact that she's in a large part of this book was what really pushed me over the edge. I had to take breaks or skip over scenes with this character in it entirely they annoyed me so much:
Phile, the daughter of some notorious female thief who's name I don't remember with an ugly dagger she just wouldn't fucking shut up about. I hated her because was loud, annoying, and acted like a character on a children's tv show. Not an entertaining one. An annoying, over the top one that's meant to entertain the children with bright colors and loud noise.
I understood she was a comic relief sort of character but her over the top, childish antics only hindered the story. She was like a small dog that wouldn't shut up or go away, especially when it was needed in the story. When there was a certain serious scene Phile would crash through like a bull in a china shop, obliterating the moment and pissing me the fuck off.
And- God help me (says the atheist)- if she talked about that fucking DAGGER one more time i was going to fucking SCREAM.
Wanted to love this book but that shit character ruined it. Hopefully she's not a prevalent in the second book. >___>
but
One-ONE- fucking character in particular pretty much ruined this book for me. The fact that she's in a large part of this book was what really pushed me over the edge. I had to take breaks or skip over scenes with this character in it entirely they annoyed me so much:
Phile, the daughter of some notorious female thief who's name I don't remember with an ugly dagger she just wouldn't fucking shut up about. I hated her because was loud, annoying, and acted like a character on a children's tv show. Not an entertaining one. An annoying, over the top one that's meant to entertain the children with bright colors and loud noise.
I understood she was a comic relief sort of character but her over the top, childish antics only hindered the story. She was like a small dog that wouldn't shut up or go away, especially when it was needed in the story. When there was a certain serious scene Phile would crash through like a bull in a china shop, obliterating the moment and pissing me the fuck off.
And- God help me (says the atheist)- if she talked about that fucking DAGGER one more time i was going to fucking SCREAM.
Wanted to love this book but that shit character ruined it. Hopefully she's not a prevalent in the second book. >___>
December 11, 2016
This book could have and should have been amazing. Unfortunately, the writing style was unsophisticated to the point where what should have been really exciting battle scenes were as mundane and boring to read as a lengthy description of a leaf. It needed better development, more exciting descriptions, fast-paced action, a more detailed exploration of the backstory and context and more gripping characters. That said, I did finish it and I'm slightly intrigued as to what happens next, although I'm not sure it's enough to make me buy the second book. Disappointing.
May 25, 2017
I read this book for a Goodreads book club that I am in. It took me a bit to get into this book but it happened and by the end I was so involved I didn't want to put it down. I've already picked up the next book and will read it when I have an extra minute!
Content: mild violence
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Content: mild violence
Source: Kindle Unlimited
July 31, 2017
Heart of Ice is elegantly enchanting. It is a faerietale for fantasy lovers. Shea has done an exceptional job with pulling you in to a story full of wonder, humor, and magic!
The Plot: Princess Rakel has been exiled to her castle of ice since discovering her magical abilities as a little girl. Always living in fear of not being accepted by her people, and the possibility of execution from her royal family, Rakel's life has been sheltered to making ice sculptures and living through the books in her library. All of that changes when the danger of an army of magic users threatens the villages nearest her castle. Can Rakel melt her fears and join ranks with the guards in charge of holding her prisoner to defend her kingdom, even if it means defending those who shun her for what could save them?
I know a book is fantastic when I finish it in one day because I could not put it down! Heart of Ice is beautiful, charming, witty, and hilarious! It is lyrical and magical and the ending left me with hope of an even better sequel, and possibly romance! I felt like I was reading a Frozen version of The Princess Bride because Shea did an amazing job with writing an elegant faerietale that also had humor and theatrics! I could see it clearly in my mind! This book has such fantastic imagery, and the characters are exceptionally developed!
Rakel will forever be my Snow Queen! I am so in love with the beauty and grace of this character! She definitely does not have a heart of ice. She lived such a sheltered, shunned life that she did not deserve, and yet, she shows true beauty in her actions to try to save her people! She is a commanding presence with a pure soul and she is so powerful! I love that, even though she has a right to be skeptical of those around her, that she does allow herself to makes friends, especially with Phile!
And, the Best Jester Award goes to Phile Silver-Step The Robber Maiden! I am blown away at how much I adore Phile! She is truly the comic relief of the story, but has a humongous heart of gold and teaches Rakel to love and trust those around her! Phile is definitely my favorite character because she is brave, strong willed, independent, gloriously funny, and leads with both her head and her heart!
Now, I have to talk about Oskar and Captain Halvor together because I love them both equally. They are so similar in character but play tremendous roles in the story. They are both brave, handsome, kind-hearted, and both loved our Queen with loyal ferocity! I don't know where the story would be without them
And lets talk about our beautiful children, Kai and Gerta! They bring such light and innocence to the tale! They see Rakel's true heart and never doubt her once. They are both equally brave and loving, and give off such childish wisdom and whimsy! As can be seen in this amazing quote spoken by Gerta:
"There're nice magic users, too! It's just like reindeer; the mean ones are the one everyone talks about."
Last, but not least, we have Farrin Graydim, one of our villains. Or is he? Farrin is mysterious, cunning, and surprisingly soft hearted. He adds a layer of intrigue to the tale with being such a powerful foe, and yet having a side that makes you doubt what you know of faerietale villains.
This book is phenomenal! It is perfect for fans of Frozen, The Princess Bride, and fantastical faerietales! It gets all the stars from me and I cannot wait to read the next installment in The Snow Queen and K.M. Shea's Timeless Fairy Tales series!
Thank you to the author for sending me this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review!
The Plot: Princess Rakel has been exiled to her castle of ice since discovering her magical abilities as a little girl. Always living in fear of not being accepted by her people, and the possibility of execution from her royal family, Rakel's life has been sheltered to making ice sculptures and living through the books in her library. All of that changes when the danger of an army of magic users threatens the villages nearest her castle. Can Rakel melt her fears and join ranks with the guards in charge of holding her prisoner to defend her kingdom, even if it means defending those who shun her for what could save them?
I know a book is fantastic when I finish it in one day because I could not put it down! Heart of Ice is beautiful, charming, witty, and hilarious! It is lyrical and magical and the ending left me with hope of an even better sequel, and possibly romance! I felt like I was reading a Frozen version of The Princess Bride because Shea did an amazing job with writing an elegant faerietale that also had humor and theatrics! I could see it clearly in my mind! This book has such fantastic imagery, and the characters are exceptionally developed!
Rakel will forever be my Snow Queen! I am so in love with the beauty and grace of this character! She definitely does not have a heart of ice. She lived such a sheltered, shunned life that she did not deserve, and yet, she shows true beauty in her actions to try to save her people! She is a commanding presence with a pure soul and she is so powerful! I love that, even though she has a right to be skeptical of those around her, that she does allow herself to makes friends, especially with Phile!
And, the Best Jester Award goes to Phile Silver-Step The Robber Maiden! I am blown away at how much I adore Phile! She is truly the comic relief of the story, but has a humongous heart of gold and teaches Rakel to love and trust those around her! Phile is definitely my favorite character because she is brave, strong willed, independent, gloriously funny, and leads with both her head and her heart!
Now, I have to talk about Oskar and Captain Halvor together because I love them both equally. They are so similar in character but play tremendous roles in the story. They are both brave, handsome, kind-hearted, and both loved our Queen with loyal ferocity! I don't know where the story would be without them
And lets talk about our beautiful children, Kai and Gerta! They bring such light and innocence to the tale! They see Rakel's true heart and never doubt her once. They are both equally brave and loving, and give off such childish wisdom and whimsy! As can be seen in this amazing quote spoken by Gerta:
"There're nice magic users, too! It's just like reindeer; the mean ones are the one everyone talks about."
Last, but not least, we have Farrin Graydim, one of our villains. Or is he? Farrin is mysterious, cunning, and surprisingly soft hearted. He adds a layer of intrigue to the tale with being such a powerful foe, and yet having a side that makes you doubt what you know of faerietale villains.
This book is phenomenal! It is perfect for fans of Frozen, The Princess Bride, and fantastical faerietales! It gets all the stars from me and I cannot wait to read the next installment in The Snow Queen and K.M. Shea's Timeless Fairy Tales series!
Thank you to the author for sending me this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review!
April 3, 2022
I had just bought all the fairytale retellings, since they were all discounted on Amazon and this was my chance, and then I checked the reading order list on Shea's website. There I discovered that, if I wanted to read all books in the right order, I should start with the tales of the Snow Queen. Well, luckily those were discounted too and this morning I thought that reading a fairytale retelling was the perfect way to spend my Sunday morning.
I was quite surprised how action packed this story actually was. There was a lot of fighting, a lot of rescuing cities from invaders and a lot of dangerous situations our Snow Queen had to escape. And in between the action there was a lot of talking about action. I loved how the author really showed us how a war was planned, how much thought goes into those fights and that even with magic strategy can make the difference between winning and losing.
And even though we mostly experienced the world when it was at war, it also feels like we've seen a lot of the kingdom, the people living in it and the society and culture. And after the finale and ending I somehow expect we only get to see more of the politics and more of the country. Without a doubt we have a road-trip coming up. And we might also have a budding romance stepping into the light in the next book!
I'm quite looking forward to that romance, but I also really appreciate that Shea takes her time to bring these characters together. At the moment they are on opposite sites. We get to know their motivation, why they are fighting and what they are fighting for and slowly we see how they're moving in each other's direction. I'm pretty sure that once they are ready to fight on the same side, we get fireworks. I can't wait to read it!
I was quite surprised how action packed this story actually was. There was a lot of fighting, a lot of rescuing cities from invaders and a lot of dangerous situations our Snow Queen had to escape. And in between the action there was a lot of talking about action. I loved how the author really showed us how a war was planned, how much thought goes into those fights and that even with magic strategy can make the difference between winning and losing.
And even though we mostly experienced the world when it was at war, it also feels like we've seen a lot of the kingdom, the people living in it and the society and culture. And after the finale and ending I somehow expect we only get to see more of the politics and more of the country. Without a doubt we have a road-trip coming up. And we might also have a budding romance stepping into the light in the next book!
I'm quite looking forward to that romance, but I also really appreciate that Shea takes her time to bring these characters together. At the moment they are on opposite sites. We get to know their motivation, why they are fighting and what they are fighting for and slowly we see how they're moving in each other's direction. I'm pretty sure that once they are ready to fight on the same side, we get fireworks. I can't wait to read it!
February 25, 2024
To really enjoy and get the full experience of this book, one must look at it like the fairytale it references. It is told in the same vein - as a fantastical story that teaches truths such as compassion, forgiveness and strength. If looked upon in that light, it is wonderful.
My heart ached for Rakel, the princess who has been locked away and isolated her entire life because of the feared magic she possesses. Her willingness to help, in spite of her horrific treatment teaches all those afore-mentioned principles in a beautiful way. There isn’t nearly enough depth and understanding of her circumstances, background and life to really cement the story to one’s heart, however. Of course fairytales rarely explain the whys or the deep feelings of those involved, because the focus is on the story. And that story is a lovely and heart-touching one.
My heart ached for Rakel, the princess who has been locked away and isolated her entire life because of the feared magic she possesses. Her willingness to help, in spite of her horrific treatment teaches all those afore-mentioned principles in a beautiful way. There isn’t nearly enough depth and understanding of her circumstances, background and life to really cement the story to one’s heart, however. Of course fairytales rarely explain the whys or the deep feelings of those involved, because the focus is on the story. And that story is a lovely and heart-touching one.
February 16, 2019
I always like Shea's fairytale retelling. This one took me awhile to read. It just seemed to drag a little in places. I loved the story over all and went on to read the 2nd book Sacrifice. These are great for younger readers. They always have a good message of hope and love.
February 27, 2021
5 stars
Thoughts:
-The characters really shine. Rather than being a closed off, unrelatable character, Rakel is idealistic and despite being on the serious side has a rather dry sense of humor. She's completely different from the typical YA heroine and I enjoyed that. Phile... Phile is something else and I love her. Her outgoing and unabashed ways balance out Rakel really well. I liked Farrin, he's still a bit of a mystery to me at this point. The other side characters have their own personalities and don't fall into stereotypes or cliches.
-Although initially it screamed "Frozen!" with the ice castle and Rakel's isolation (and even Rakel's appearance is similar to Elsa's), it wasn't as similar as what I expected. There are elements from the original tale ( Kai and Gerta, the Robber Maiden, the mirror, etc) which are introduced. I'm interested in seeing how the sequel follows/deviates from the original fairytale in terms of plot.
-At one point it seemed like Rakel was an overpowered character (i.e., she has a ton of power with seemingly no consequences or limits to her power.) However, that was addressed and yes, there are consequences even if they aren't initially apparent.
-The story really dived into the different powers, whether that was unique powers (like purification and the ability to enchant objects) or exploring different uses of more generic ones (control over snow and ice). Curses are mentioned towards the end and they sound pretty interesting, although we haven't found out yet how they work.
-The story has a really nice balance of seriousness and levity.
-Overall, this was a really well-done Snow Queen retelling and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel. :)
Content: None/Mild. No swearing. There are battle skirmishes but nothing even approaching violent in terms of blood/gore. Phile comments frequently about the attractiveness of the officers and mentions "ogling" them but that's about it.
Thoughts:
-The characters really shine. Rather than being a closed off, unrelatable character, Rakel is idealistic and despite being on the serious side has a rather dry sense of humor. She's completely different from the typical YA heroine and I enjoyed that. Phile... Phile is something else and I love her. Her outgoing and unabashed ways balance out Rakel really well. I liked Farrin, he's still a bit of a mystery to me at this point. The other side characters have their own personalities and don't fall into stereotypes or cliches.
-Although initially it screamed "Frozen!" with the ice castle and Rakel's isolation (and even Rakel's appearance is similar to Elsa's), it wasn't as similar as what I expected. There are elements from the original tale ( Kai and Gerta, the Robber Maiden, the mirror, etc) which are introduced. I'm interested in seeing how the sequel follows/deviates from the original fairytale in terms of plot.
-At one point it seemed like Rakel was an overpowered character (i.e., she has a ton of power with seemingly no consequences or limits to her power.) However, that was addressed and yes, there are consequences even if they aren't initially apparent.
-The story really dived into the different powers, whether that was unique powers (like purification and the ability to enchant objects) or exploring different uses of more generic ones (control over snow and ice). Curses are mentioned towards the end and they sound pretty interesting, although we haven't found out yet how they work.
-The story has a really nice balance of seriousness and levity.
-Overall, this was a really well-done Snow Queen retelling and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel. :)
Content: None/Mild. No swearing. There are battle skirmishes but nothing even approaching violent in terms of blood/gore. Phile comments frequently about the attractiveness of the officers and mentions "ogling" them but that's about it.
March 3, 2025
☞ Trigger warnings:
Rakel is a lonely, traumatised girl with very little human interaction. Everyone is afraid of her because of her power and she has been banished for most of her life. I felt very drawn and inspired by Rakel and I don't think I could be as well adjusted, kind and rational as Rakel under the same circumstances. Trust for her is hard but I'm happy she receives the love and gains the found family she deserves.
It felt a bit young for me, but it was still an enjoyable read with tension, suspense and a budding romance.
The Snow Queen Series
☁︎ Heart of Ice ★★★★
☁︎ Sacrifice ★★★
Rakel is a lonely, traumatised girl with very little human interaction. Everyone is afraid of her because of her power and she has been banished for most of her life. I felt very drawn and inspired by Rakel and I don't think I could be as well adjusted, kind and rational as Rakel under the same circumstances. Trust for her is hard but I'm happy she receives the love and gains the found family she deserves.
It felt a bit young for me, but it was still an enjoyable read with tension, suspense and a budding romance.
The Snow Queen Series
☁︎ Heart of Ice ★★★★
☁︎ Sacrifice ★★★
Blog ✿ Goodreads ✿ Twitter ✿ Instagram ✿ Pinterest ✿ StoryGraph ✿ Discovery ✿
June 9, 2020
Having very much enjoyed the Hall of Blood and Mercy trilogy. My first experience with this author. I decided to give more of her work a go.
I think my biggest problem with this book was that I wasn't sure how to classify it, besides NA fantasy. It certainly isn't a romance. The H, Farrin, kisses Rakel on the cheek on the second to last page - that's about as steamy as this book gets. The very last page of this book Rakel finally understands that Farrin likes her in a romantic sense - as she has no experience with such feelings.
Yes, I enjoyed watching the icy Rakel use her powers and save the country - but she's a little thin on the character front, and I never really grew to care for her. I was more excited by Phile, The Robber Maiden, whose agenda I'm still unclear about.
I'm thinking perhaps this genre of NA & squeaky clean romance is not really for me. More worrisome - because of the inexperience of the heroine this barely qualifies as a NA and really is more YA. We get almost no time with the Hero. And his interactions with Rakel don't support these emotions he supposedly has developed for her.
Having gone with the option of buying the trilogy boxset of this series - I will be carrying on with book 2 - fingers crossed I will be pleasantly surprised.
I think my biggest problem with this book was that I wasn't sure how to classify it, besides NA fantasy. It certainly isn't a romance. The H, Farrin, kisses Rakel on the cheek on the second to last page - that's about as steamy as this book gets. The very last page of this book Rakel finally understands that Farrin likes her in a romantic sense - as she has no experience with such feelings.
Yes, I enjoyed watching the icy Rakel use her powers and save the country - but she's a little thin on the character front, and I never really grew to care for her. I was more excited by Phile, The Robber Maiden, whose agenda I'm still unclear about.
I'm thinking perhaps this genre of NA & squeaky clean romance is not really for me. More worrisome - because of the inexperience of the heroine this barely qualifies as a NA and really is more YA. We get almost no time with the Hero. And his interactions with Rakel don't support these emotions he supposedly has developed for her.
Having gone with the option of buying the trilogy boxset of this series - I will be carrying on with book 2 - fingers crossed I will be pleasantly surprised.
March 10, 2021
This is a retelling of the Snow Queen fairytale. Rakel has been isolated on a snowy mountain for most of her life, and she has spent her time reading books and developing her magic. Then the men guarding her ask her to save the kingdom, which has been invaded by magic users intent on revenge. Magic users are feared and often abused and enslaved. Rakel isn't inclined to help those who isolated and fear her, but her compassion for children draws her out into the world. She's hurt that some of the people she helps continue to insult and try to kill her, but her loyal friends help bring out the best in her.
I liked the story more than I expected and look forward to reading the sequel. The characters had some complexity and grew as people. Though we know very little about the background of the secondary characters, they were interesting and engaging. I cared about what happened to them. There was the beginnings of a romance that started as mutual respect. The world-building was mostly focused on creating an interesting magic system. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I recommend this enjoyable fantasy.
I liked the story more than I expected and look forward to reading the sequel. The characters had some complexity and grew as people. Though we know very little about the background of the secondary characters, they were interesting and engaging. I cared about what happened to them. There was the beginnings of a romance that started as mutual respect. The world-building was mostly focused on creating an interesting magic system. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I recommend this enjoyable fantasy.
July 26, 2021
A full on winter-war book!
I love it! I didn't think I needed an "Elsa" book, but clearly, I DID. I SOOOO NEEDED ONE! ^_^
It's one of those books where you feel like you already know the character right off the bat, but you were wrong. Haha! I love how "RAKEL" was able to surprise me at every turn. I mean she is the snow queen, but she's also something more! I love that how her strength and vulnerability come together to form such a great woman. She's an amazing queen and if I were a queen in a fictional story, I'd love to be her! Having such enormous power coupled with a strong will, she'll beat all the odds!
I know that this review is mostly about Rakel. What can I say? SHE IS THE BOOK. Hahaha! I'm currently reading the conclusion to this. I just know I'll love everything about it!
I love it! I didn't think I needed an "Elsa" book, but clearly, I DID. I SOOOO NEEDED ONE! ^_^
It's one of those books where you feel like you already know the character right off the bat, but you were wrong. Haha! I love how "RAKEL" was able to surprise me at every turn. I mean she is the snow queen, but she's also something more! I love that how her strength and vulnerability come together to form such a great woman. She's an amazing queen and if I were a queen in a fictional story, I'd love to be her! Having such enormous power coupled with a strong will, she'll beat all the odds!
I know that this review is mostly about Rakel. What can I say? SHE IS THE BOOK. Hahaha! I'm currently reading the conclusion to this. I just know I'll love everything about it!
May 12, 2022
I picked this book up because one of my favorite series, The Elves of Lessa, was written by the author. Based on that, I had very high expectations from this book. While I have a minor complaint about the story, it was mostly enjoyable.
It's a retelling of The Snow Queen, a fairytale I had never heard of before. I love discovering new fairytales and legends, so I was very excited. The author's writing style is captivating with a beautiful flow. The descriptions helped me visualize the scenes in my mind.
Farrin was portrayed as a morally grey character, which made him realistic. I could understand his dilemma; the need to inflict pain on the people who did the same to his kind and his growing feelings for Rakel constantly warred in his heart.
I could feel Rakel's pain of abandonment and isolation, but the repetitive monologue in her head and the constant self doubt got a bit exhausting after a point. This is the only thing that kept the book from being a perfect read.
My favorite character was Phile, who added humor and a sense of light-heartedness to the story. The other supporting characters also did a great job in pushing the story forward.
The part I liked most about the book was the fight sequences. It was fun to see the various magic users show off their moves. Their interactions while fighting were quite entertaining. I also liked seeing Rakel grow and improve after each encounter.
I'm very excited to read the sequel because there are going to be many revelations in it. I also want to see Rakel and Farrin's relationship progress. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy fantasies with the found-family trope, fairytale retellings, a lot of action, and some romance.
It's a retelling of The Snow Queen, a fairytale I had never heard of before. I love discovering new fairytales and legends, so I was very excited. The author's writing style is captivating with a beautiful flow. The descriptions helped me visualize the scenes in my mind.
Farrin was portrayed as a morally grey character, which made him realistic. I could understand his dilemma; the need to inflict pain on the people who did the same to his kind and his growing feelings for Rakel constantly warred in his heart.
I could feel Rakel's pain of abandonment and isolation, but the repetitive monologue in her head and the constant self doubt got a bit exhausting after a point. This is the only thing that kept the book from being a perfect read.
My favorite character was Phile, who added humor and a sense of light-heartedness to the story. The other supporting characters also did a great job in pushing the story forward.
The part I liked most about the book was the fight sequences. It was fun to see the various magic users show off their moves. Their interactions while fighting were quite entertaining. I also liked seeing Rakel grow and improve after each encounter.
I'm very excited to read the sequel because there are going to be many revelations in it. I also want to see Rakel and Farrin's relationship progress. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy fantasies with the found-family trope, fairytale retellings, a lot of action, and some romance.
February 12, 2017
This was okay, I felt like the characters didn't have much depth though. Phile was the worst- she just turned up from nowhere and fully supported Rakel for reasons unknown and her character seems designed to help Rakel appreciate everything she has more rather than being a character in her own right- she felt like a manic pixie dream girl. Rakel is also a very brooding and angst filled charater- I get it life has dealt her a shit hand but she's not much fun to read about.
It also frustrates me that Rakel was too kind to hurt the people she was fighting against, when you know letting your enemies get away will mean them coming back and fighting and potentially killing your allies later it starts to seem less like mercy and more like weakness.
It also frustrates me that Rakel was too kind to hurt the people she was fighting against, when you know letting your enemies get away will mean them coming back and fighting and potentially killing your allies later it starts to seem less like mercy and more like weakness.
October 3, 2021
This book started slow for me, but then it got riveting and I had a hard time putting it down. To me, it was like a twist on the Frozen story, but with fighting and a war going on that the Snow Queen has to fight. The slight romance that is developing between her and the enemy will surely bring some tension into the next books in the series. This author does great stories with lots of action and deep characters. Anyway, take a chance on her if you haven’t already. I’ve liked all the stories I’ve read by her so far.
May 5, 2018
Wow that was good, I only wish the romance was developed a bit more through out the story.
I like all of the characters. Each and every one of them is dead to me 😻
I like all of the characters. Each and every one of them is dead to me 😻
January 27, 2024
K.M. Shea is quickly becoming one of my go to light read authors. She has a way of writing that is easy to consume and doesn’t leave me feeling bogged down in emotional book hangover when I’m done. Now, don’t get me wrong, I live for a good book hang over. But, sometimes you just need to disconnect for a bit without all the emotional ups and downs. Shea manages to provide that without her stories being boring or leaving me feeling uninvested in our main characters.
All that being said, I took off a star because the fight scenes and battles leave something to be desired. I can feel the decision Shea made prior to writing her books. I imagine her thoughts are somewhere along the lines of fantasy being over saturated in gratuitous violence and especially death. I imagine her deciding she’s going to break the mold and have characters that consciously don’t kill, and she won’t just kill off characters the readers care about for spite. I get that. I really do! I even respect it, it’s probably part of the reason I turn to Shea when I’m looking for a light read. However, and this is a big however, it makes the fights and battles that should be high stakes feel very low stakes. We know no one is going to die going into it, so there’s really no anxiety or anything surrounding the fight or battle. I guess it just leaves me feeling like there are no stakes because we know death isn’t on the table despite the fact that those are the stakes in battle. If Shea wanted to raise the stakes without death there are options for that. Memory loss can be a decent option, kidnapping, loss of an important artifact, etc. there can still be stakes without death being the main one, but it doesn’t feel like she does that, instead just removing the stakes all together.
All that being said, I took off a star because the fight scenes and battles leave something to be desired. I can feel the decision Shea made prior to writing her books. I imagine her thoughts are somewhere along the lines of fantasy being over saturated in gratuitous violence and especially death. I imagine her deciding she’s going to break the mold and have characters that consciously don’t kill, and she won’t just kill off characters the readers care about for spite. I get that. I really do! I even respect it, it’s probably part of the reason I turn to Shea when I’m looking for a light read. However, and this is a big however, it makes the fights and battles that should be high stakes feel very low stakes. We know no one is going to die going into it, so there’s really no anxiety or anything surrounding the fight or battle. I guess it just leaves me feeling like there are no stakes because we know death isn’t on the table despite the fact that those are the stakes in battle. If Shea wanted to raise the stakes without death there are options for that. Memory loss can be a decent option, kidnapping, loss of an important artifact, etc. there can still be stakes without death being the main one, but it doesn’t feel like she does that, instead just removing the stakes all together.
June 5, 2021
here's my thought since chapter 1: human are fool. ugh, i'm so sick and tired of this worms that plague earth. and i'm definitely sick and tired of 'oh-so-noble-and-selfless' lead character, so disgusting and boring. I WANT A RUTHLESS AND MORALLY GREY CHARACTER WHO ARE NOT AFRAID TO KILL. this excuse K. M. Shea called Rakel is dead boring. so noble, so selfless, snoozevile.
seriously, i think if this book was a bit bloodier and had some gory and murder in it (instead of the weak-hearted princess), it would be ten thousands more better and enjoyable. and it was utterly ridiculous that she fought the same enemy mage over and over again just because she had too much mercy. it made the battle scenes very boring and not thrilling at all.
it was also very inconsistent. for me, the most remarkable inconsistence was when i thought Bluff, the weather mage was dead because he was hit REAL HARD on the head with snow boulder but then he came back like nothing's wrong wth. all those small inconsistence was very annoying
at least the plot was A TINY BIT better and more refreshing the the 'fairy tales series. Also, like almost all of K. M. Shea's books, love the side characters and the guy, except the lead female characters.
seriously, i think if this book was a bit bloodier and had some gory and murder in it (instead of the weak-hearted princess), it would be ten thousands more better and enjoyable. and it was utterly ridiculous that she fought the same enemy mage over and over again just because she had too much mercy. it made the battle scenes very boring and not thrilling at all.
it was also very inconsistent. for me, the most remarkable inconsistence was when i thought Bluff, the weather mage was dead because he was hit REAL HARD on the head with snow boulder but then he came back like nothing's wrong wth. all those small inconsistence was very annoying
at least the plot was A TINY BIT better and more refreshing the the 'fairy tales series. Also, like almost all of K. M. Shea's books, love the side characters and the guy, except the lead female characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2020
Princess Rakel has spent her life despised for her power over snow and ice, isolated in an ice castle, wondering when her brother, the king, is going to order her execution. Until one day, when the kingdom is attacked by outsiders who also use magic, and she has to decide between saving the people who despise her, or betraying them to be with people who appear to value her contributions. This is complicated by her relationship with Captain Halvor, who was her jailer, and now is wiling to fight beside her against the invaders.
This book starts slow. None of the characters seem to be particularly likable at first, but once it gets going, it's an action-packed thrill ride with a moral quandary, about who to trust and how to forgive.
This book starts slow. None of the characters seem to be particularly likable at first, but once it gets going, it's an action-packed thrill ride with a moral quandary, about who to trust and how to forgive.
August 1, 2017
4.5 Stars
A novel that had me rapidly going through its pages, and leaves me eager to pick up where this novel left off in Book 2! Filled with charming characters, humor, action and a hint of romance on the horizon, Heart of Ice is a delightful read.
While this novel takes place in the same world that the Timeless Fairy Tale series exist in, this one takes place centuries before those novels. For those who have read the Timeless Fairy Tales series they will recognize mention of the Snow Queen in several of the books.
As far as Shea's novels go I have to say this is among my top picks!
A novel that had me rapidly going through its pages, and leaves me eager to pick up where this novel left off in Book 2! Filled with charming characters, humor, action and a hint of romance on the horizon, Heart of Ice is a delightful read.
While this novel takes place in the same world that the Timeless Fairy Tale series exist in, this one takes place centuries before those novels. For those who have read the Timeless Fairy Tales series they will recognize mention of the Snow Queen in several of the books.
As far as Shea's novels go I have to say this is among my top picks!
May 6, 2019
This series overlaps with this author's fairy tale series. It could be considered a prequel but it isn't necessary to read prior to the other books unless you want to pick up on the subtle references you'll occasionally find.
I really enjoyed this book duet plus the extras given in a third book. I fell in love with all the characters.
I really enjoyed this book duet plus the extras given in a third book. I fell in love with all the characters.
February 15, 2021
(4.5 stars) - 🎶 do you wanna build a snowman? ☃️ 🎶
This is an interesting & fairly fun variation on the Snow Queen fairytale. It's not flawless, but it's still a very entertaining story. I'm eager to read book 2 to see how she wraps it up!
*Romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic
This is an interesting & fairly fun variation on the Snow Queen fairytale. It's not flawless, but it's still a very entertaining story. I'm eager to read book 2 to see how she wraps it up!
*Romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic
August 8, 2022
Predictable, but interesting take on the classic fairy tale. Needs a grammar clean up.
For my clean readers: violence.
For my clean readers: violence.
March 30, 2025
I don't actually know the original story of the Snow Queen. My only connection to the story is Elsa in Frozen. But she totally rocked the "Elsa" character in this.
Lots of battles and war strategies in the book, but with magic users and upgraded snowball fights. I kind of wanted a little bit more love interest and less war, but looks like we don't get that till book 2.
This also sets us up into more plot and unknown elements to figure out in book 2, which I'm excited about.
Lots of battles and war strategies in the book, but with magic users and upgraded snowball fights. I kind of wanted a little bit more love interest and less war, but looks like we don't get that till book 2.
This also sets us up into more plot and unknown elements to figure out in book 2, which I'm excited about.
January 29, 2019
You know, I've always been intrigued by the Snow Queen story. Perhaps it was the old children's show I had, or perhaps it's the rarity of the tale. Either way, something about the story draws me in, so I was definitely curious about this retelling.
I very much enjoyed the twist on the tale here. Shea takes a classic villain and puts us inside her head. She's constructed a society and a world that has isolated her out of fear and ignorance. I mean, at least they spared her life, right? We're told other countries don't even do that--though, we've no evidence of that yet. I'd like to see how other countries tie into this story and this world a little more in the sequel. We're slowly introduced to more and more of Verglas, but as Raquel has been so isolated her entire life, we get very little knowledge of the history of the country. Maybe that will come into play with the next book and the mirror. Speaking of mirror, I liked the touches of the original: the boy and girl, the allusion to the mirror--though we still don't understand that quite yet--and the formidable Snow Queen herself. It's been a while since I read the original, but I remembered enough key aspects to recognize them as Shea incorporated them and to hold my breath wondering if she'd stay true to it or just turn it on its head. For instance, I was terrified something horrible would happen to Kai for the entire book!
The plot did touch the original story, but it also held its own mystery and intrigue, keeping me very engaged. I loved seeing how the society reacted to Raquel, the invaders, and other moving parts in the plot. I'm very interested to see how the story will play out in the next book.
The setting was beautifully described and tied in, of course, to the Snow Queen's powers--which were also very well-written, I thought. I'm curious about her magic system and hope to see more of that revealed, too; though I did feel enough revealed in this book to be satisfied and content with where we are now. I liked that the setting changed up from village to village and palace to palace. I loved Raquel's castle! I wish I could see more of that and that the story had lingered there just a little longer--perhaps we will return.
The story is well written and I didn't catch an inconsistencies or typos. The pacing was even for most of the book. I did feel the end was a little...lopsided. Have you ever screwed a bottle cap on and missed a ring? So when you're done the cap is just slightly crooked? That's kind of how this ending felt to me. It wasn't necessarily rushed, but it was...off. It was not as fleshed out as the rest of the book. That said, I am very invested in seeing the story through.
I enjoyed these characters. Rakel was so relatable, at least for me. Distrustful of people, used to being alone, angry and hurt by the way others saw and treated her. And she grew. I liked watching her slowly learn that there are good people who can be relied upon and trusted. I can't wait to see how much bolder and more confident she grows. I liked Graydim, too. I absolutely loved the bits we got to see from his pov and certainly hope to see more of those! I want to know his backstory. I want to know what he's been through, why he stands where he does, and why he isn't as callous as the others. I loved seeing how he softened toward Rakel and the beautiful, simple, and very slight touches Shea added in his behavior were my very favorite part of the entire book. One thing I didn't really appreciate, however, was the very blunt realization Rakel had at the very end of the story. I felt like it stole from the subtlety that Shea had built around him up to that point. It sort of robbed the romance of its magic in a way, at least for me. The captain makes me smile. He's another favorite of mine. I hope we get to dive in a little deeper with him in the next book. Philie was...an interesting character. I'm still undecided about her. I'm not sure how I feel about her, but she definitely adds some color to the story. The king. We saw him briefly, but what little we did see made me tilt my head. I'm very curious to see more of him.
Overall, this was a neat little rendition of the Snow Queen and I'm excited to move on to the next book. The story was clean and enjoyable; no foul language, very little and very mild violence, and very subtle, clean, almost non-existent romance. I'd feel comfortable giving this to a young teen or pre-teen even. There are themes of slavery, war, prejudice, and neglect, but they're all very well-handled and still allow the book to be appropriate even for a younger audience.
I very much enjoyed the twist on the tale here. Shea takes a classic villain and puts us inside her head. She's constructed a society and a world that has isolated her out of fear and ignorance. I mean, at least they spared her life, right? We're told other countries don't even do that--though, we've no evidence of that yet. I'd like to see how other countries tie into this story and this world a little more in the sequel. We're slowly introduced to more and more of Verglas, but as Raquel has been so isolated her entire life, we get very little knowledge of the history of the country. Maybe that will come into play with the next book and the mirror. Speaking of mirror, I liked the touches of the original: the boy and girl, the allusion to the mirror--though we still don't understand that quite yet--and the formidable Snow Queen herself. It's been a while since I read the original, but I remembered enough key aspects to recognize them as Shea incorporated them and to hold my breath wondering if she'd stay true to it or just turn it on its head. For instance, I was terrified something horrible would happen to Kai for the entire book!
The plot did touch the original story, but it also held its own mystery and intrigue, keeping me very engaged. I loved seeing how the society reacted to Raquel, the invaders, and other moving parts in the plot. I'm very interested to see how the story will play out in the next book.
The setting was beautifully described and tied in, of course, to the Snow Queen's powers--which were also very well-written, I thought. I'm curious about her magic system and hope to see more of that revealed, too; though I did feel enough revealed in this book to be satisfied and content with where we are now. I liked that the setting changed up from village to village and palace to palace. I loved Raquel's castle! I wish I could see more of that and that the story had lingered there just a little longer--perhaps we will return.
The story is well written and I didn't catch an inconsistencies or typos. The pacing was even for most of the book. I did feel the end was a little...lopsided. Have you ever screwed a bottle cap on and missed a ring? So when you're done the cap is just slightly crooked? That's kind of how this ending felt to me. It wasn't necessarily rushed, but it was...off. It was not as fleshed out as the rest of the book. That said, I am very invested in seeing the story through.
I enjoyed these characters. Rakel was so relatable, at least for me. Distrustful of people, used to being alone, angry and hurt by the way others saw and treated her. And she grew. I liked watching her slowly learn that there are good people who can be relied upon and trusted. I can't wait to see how much bolder and more confident she grows. I liked Graydim, too. I absolutely loved the bits we got to see from his pov and certainly hope to see more of those! I want to know his backstory. I want to know what he's been through, why he stands where he does, and why he isn't as callous as the others. I loved seeing how he softened toward Rakel and the beautiful, simple, and very slight touches Shea added in his behavior were my very favorite part of the entire book. One thing I didn't really appreciate, however, was the very blunt realization Rakel had at the very end of the story. I felt like it stole from the subtlety that Shea had built around him up to that point. It sort of robbed the romance of its magic in a way, at least for me. The captain makes me smile. He's another favorite of mine. I hope we get to dive in a little deeper with him in the next book. Philie was...an interesting character. I'm still undecided about her. I'm not sure how I feel about her, but she definitely adds some color to the story. The king. We saw him briefly, but what little we did see made me tilt my head. I'm very curious to see more of him.
Overall, this was a neat little rendition of the Snow Queen and I'm excited to move on to the next book. The story was clean and enjoyable; no foul language, very little and very mild violence, and very subtle, clean, almost non-existent romance. I'd feel comfortable giving this to a young teen or pre-teen even. There are themes of slavery, war, prejudice, and neglect, but they're all very well-handled and still allow the book to be appropriate even for a younger audience.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews